Arteta Highlights Arsenal’s Determination After Epic Victory Against Newcastle
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his confidence in his team’s mentality after the dramatic victory against Newcastle, closing in on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday opened an opportunity for Arsenal, who showed up at St James’ Park.
At six minutes from the end, Newcastle was leading 1-0 thanks to Nick Woltemade’s goal in the 34th minute. However, goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel in added time secured a 2-1 victory for Arsenal.
There are moments in the season and, obviously, with the start we already had and the difficult matches we had, today we had the opportunity to close that gap and do it in a stadium that has a very recent and difficult past for us. I think that shows how much the team wants it.
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal dominated much of the match, but Newcastle’s goalkeeper, Nick Pope, with his outstanding interventions and the home team’s defense, kept the score in Newcastle’s favor until the end.
This victory ended Arsenal’s run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions at St James’.
Substitute captain Bukayo Saka highlighted the importance of the result, recalling the difficulties the team has faced in the past at this stadium.
Saka stated on the club’s official website: “It was a great result. We’ve come here in the past and the results haven’t favored us, or decisions and things like that.”
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Saka added: “It was starting to feel like that again today, but we have great character, great fight to turn it around, so we are very happy.”Saka, who was returning from an injury, played 70 minutes and was satisfied with the final result.
Saka commented: “I felt very good. I felt that we dominated the match, controlled it and, in the end, we got what we deserved.”
“It’s a beautiful feeling every time I get to wear the armband, and even better when we get three points, so I’m very happy.”
